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“Published quarterly by The Sportsmen’s Club of Lake Vermilion, Inc.,A non-profit lake association, founded in 1968 and dedicated to the

preservation and improvement of Lake Vermilion”

Vol. 37, No. 1 2100 MEMBERS COOK & TOWER, MN March 2011Vol. 37, No. 1 2100 MEMBERS COOK & TOWER, MN March 2011Vol. 37, No. 1 2100 MEMBERS COOK & TOWER, MN March 2011Vol. 37, No. 1 2100 MEMBERS COOK & TOWER, MN March 2011Vol. 37, No. 1 2100 MEMBERS COOK & TOWER, MN March 2011

If you have lived on a beautiful lake for a number ofyears and all of a sudden your favorite waterfront has beeninvaded, with let’s say zebra mussels, and you have a fairunderstanding of the damage these mussels can do toyour dock, your beach and your boat, it’s a rather safe betthat you are angry! Two of the questions you would beasking yourself are why didn’t our lake association, countyor township organize to prevent this from happening andwhy hasn’t the MN DNR done more to keep these “AquaticInvasive Species - AIS” from spreading to our lake? Thou-sands of people in Minnesota have been asking thesesame questions over the past several years and someareas of the state have actually been doing somethingabout it. Recognizing that the present prevention meth-ods and laws have been inadequate, the DNR has beenholding a series of meetings to collect and distill recom-mendations from the very people who have been affectedor believe they will/could be in the near future. For themost part these people are active, vocal, angry, concernedand anxious about the future prospects of their water bod-ies and neighborhoods. The DNR calls them “stakehold-ers.” I have been privileged to be a delegate from North-ern Minnesota to this hard working group.

A total of four meetings have been held, suggestionsand recommendations provided from the stakeholders andthe ideas winnowed down to the eight most important anddoable for quick action. These ideas were strictly fromthe meeting attendants outside of the DNR. It’s importantto mention that the total participants were from a varietyof organizations such as: Lake Associations, CountyGovernments, Anglers, Conservation groups, Businesses,

Watersheds, Tribes and of course the DNR. These arethe eight primary recommendations formulated to-date:

1. Increase enforcement of AIS laws.2. Increase penalties for violations.3. Improve the inspection process for AIS.4. Increase public awareness of AIS.5. Aid AIS prevention actions at water accesses.6. Require lake service provider training.7. Focus on high use infested waters & prioritize.8. Increase funding for AIS efforts.

While these ideas may seem rather simplistic for thosefamiliar with the present day shortcomings of AIS enforce-ment and penalties, they actually involve a considerablestep-up in the state’s rules and regulations. Meanwhile,some people will only see possible civil rights issues, “bigbrother” problems and just plain inconvenience in this list.In Number 1 above for example, the committee recom-mended at least doubling the DNR enforcement hours onAIS prevention and improving and facilitating the qualityand quantity of involved local AIS law enforcement whichis essentially non-existent in most parts of the state. Wealso want to enhance the ability of officers to stop andinspect boats and trailers on the road and make it easierfor the average citizen to report an AIS violation. I will betalking about these recommendations in future newslet-ter issues and am not attempting to cover them all in de-tail here.

“Invasive Species”… by Bob Wilson

IN THIS ISSUE

Stop VHS With Safe Bait ......................... Page 3

Memories of the Lake ......................... Pages 4-5

Tracking Oil Spill’s Effect on Loons ......... Page 7

What Do Muskies Eat Anyway? ...... Pages 10-11

Vermilion Ice Road Alert!! ...................... 4

Vermilion Safe Boater’s Guide .................. Page15

So You Want to be a Fishing Guide Pages 16-17

(Continued on Page 3)

2 The Vermilion Sportsman, March 2011

Greetings friends and neighbors,

Normally, I look forward to the winter season andthe opportunity to go snowmobiling, fish for lake troutin Canada, and cut some firewood down at the deershack. This year has been different. Lake trout fishingand wood cutting have been replaced by snowblowing…lots of it. I have lost track of how many timesI have used our snow blower since last November.Certainly, more often than I used the lawn mower lastsummer. I do know that I am on the third filling of ourthree-gallon gas can and I had to replace both thedrive and the attachment belts to keep the machineoperating. Besides blowing snow, removing the snowfrom the roof has added to the workload. And thewinter is not over yet. Hopefully by the time this goesto print, we will have had a February thaw easingwinter’s grip somewhat.

Winter is also a time when the pace of life slowsdown. One has time to recharge for the warmerseasons ahead and to make plans for those things youwould like to accomplish this year. Some call thesegoals their New Year’s resolutions while others re-ferred to them as their “bucket list”. Whatever thecase, anyone who loves Lake Vermilion should haveon their list the goal of preventing the spread ofaquatic invasive species (AIS) into the lake. Thisthreat cannot be overstated. Each year theseunwanted invaders are discovered in additional watersof our state, some of which are not far from Vermilion.Board Member Bob Wilson has attended severalstatewide meetings hosted by the DNR aimed atdeveloping an action plan to curb the AIS spread. His“Invasive Species” article in this issue of our newslet-ter outlines the group’s recommendations to addressthis problem. On a personal level, you can help bymaking absolutely sure that your boat is clean beforelaunching in Lake Vermilion. If your boat has been ininfested waters, such as Rainy Lake, Mille Lacs Lake,St. Louis Bay, or others, it is imperative that the StopAquatic Hitchhiker clean boat standards be followed.

Outgoing DNR Commissioner Mark Holsten ap-proved the Lake Vermilion State Park Master Plan inlate December. This paves the way for the DNR toseek funding for development of the new park in the

PPPPPRESIDENTRESIDENTRESIDENTRESIDENTRESIDENT’’’’’SSSSS M M M M MESSAGEESSAGEESSAGEESSAGEESSAGE……………

upcoming legislative season. A copy of the MasterPlan is available on the DNR websitewww.dnr.state.mn.us. The final close-out meeting ofthe Park Citizen Advisory Committee was scheduledfor February 7, 2011. The DNR plans to keep localcitizens involved in the design and developmentstages of the new park.

Plans are starting to take shape for the secondannual Take A Kid Fishing event this summer underthe leadership of Board Member Ed Tausk. Planningmeetings will begin in March with the event to takeplace in late June or July. More information will beprovided in our May newsletter.

Membership Coordinator Jeff Lovgren reports thatwe continue to be ahead of last year’s record-settingpace for both new members and renewals. We havealready booked 35 new memberships for 2011, anunusually large number for the winter. And member-ship renewals stand at 870 households compared to735 at this time last year. Donations are also upsignificantly. Many thanks to each donor as thesefunds are vitally important to all our programs, includ-ing our campaign to protect Vermilion from aquaticinvasive species.

Our Records Improvement Committee (Renee Aro,Sheri Sawatzky, and Jeff Lovgren) along with helpfrom volunteer member Terry Jones is makingprogress on our records improvement project. Theyare scanning our 40+ years of documents into elec-tronic format and saving them in a web service calledGoogle.Docs, where they will be searchable andprotected for future use.

In our May newsletter we will be making an appealfor volunteers to help in the different programs carriedout by our lake association. The time commitment tothese activities is not huge, usually 10-15 hours overthe course of the summer. The payback is not mea-sured in dollars, but instead by the new friends you willmake and the inner satisfaction that you receive bygiving something back to this great lake we areprivileged to use and enjoy.

Mel Hintz, President

3www.sportsmensclublakevermilion.org

On February 9th the SCLV presented AIS informationto our surrounding Town and Township representativesafter our Board Meeting in Greenwood Township Hall. Wewant and need more people interested and active in pre-venting this potential problem on Vermilion, more bootson the ground to use a present day cliché. You can help!Become an active Sportsmen’s Club volunteer. I’ll reportour meeting results in the next newsletter issue.

• “Invasive Species”(Continued from front page)

To help stop the spread of a deadly fish virus, anglersmust carry proof that their cisco and rainbow smelt baitshave been preserved by an authorized processor. Pro-cessors must obtain a permit and preserve all cisco andrainbow smelt in a way that kills VHS (viral hemorrhagicsepticemia). The preserved bait rule, which took effect Oct.4, 2010, is the latest effort to prevent VHS from infestingMinnesota’s inland waters.

In June 2010, the DNR classified Lake Superior as in-fested with VHS. Harvest of any bait from Lake Superioris prohibited. VHS does not affect humans, and anglersmay still legally keep Lake Superior cisco and rainbowsmelt for personal consumption.

Cisco or rainbow smelt harvested from inland lakes maybe used as bait after being processed and labeled by anauthorized permit holder. Under the new rule, anglers mustcarry the label from any batch of cisco or rainbow smeltused for bait, regardless of where harvested. The labelmust include the processor’s cisco and rainbow smeltpreservation permit number, the bait lot number, and theprocessing date.

“We understand that people like to use frozen cisco andrainbow smelt for bait,” says DNR aquaculture and fish

health consultant Paula Phelps. “We’re looking at meth-ods that would allow for this type of use while minimizingthe threat of spreading VHS.”

Cisco are known to carry VHS, and rainbow smelt arelikely carriers. Both are commonly used as bait by an-glers targeting lake trout, salmon, and northern pike. Thepopularity of cisco and rainbow smelt as bait, and the factthat they are readily caught in Lake Superior, poses a sig-nificant risk for spreading VHS, says Phelps.

VHS is a virus that attacks both saltwater and freshwaterfish and can ultimately cause fish to bleed to death. Thestrain of VHS present in the Great Lakes region can affectat least 28 species. It has caused fish kills in muskellunge,largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, yellow perch, blue-gill, black crappie, lake whitefish, freshwater drum, andround gobies. It can also infect other game fish such aswalleye, northern pike, and trout. VHS has been presentin the Great Lakes since at least 2003. In January 2010,researchers found VHS in Lake Superior. Active monitor-ing by the DNR has not detected the virus in any of thestate’s inland lakes.

Only DNR-licensed private hatcheries, aquatic farms, min-now dealers, minnow retailers, commercial netters, fishpackers, and Lake Superior fishing guides may obtain apermit to preserve cisco and rainbow smelt. VHS can bedestroyed by various methods, according to Phelps. Oneinvolves submersing baitfish in rubbing alcohol or mineraloil for 14 days. Another involves drying with salt and Bo-rax for 14 days.

To learn more about VHS, visit www.focusonfishhealth.org.For information on permitting and authorized bait sellers,call 651-259-5213 or go to www.mndnr.gov/bait.

Michael A. Kallok, Associate Editor

Stop VHS With Safe BaitReprinted from Minnesota Conservation Volunteer, January - February 2011

“Without love of the land,conservation lacks meaning or purpose,for only in a deep and inherent feeling

for the land can there be dedication inpreserving it.”

— Sigurd Olson


I found Ed Woolverton’s article very interesting. Imet Ed when I worked at Grand View Resortduring the summers of 1947 through 1950. JesseSwanson was the owner of the resort then. Hishome was at the southwest corner of Niles Baywhere Jack Jordan lives now.

In early June the boat slips would be packedwith spawning shiners. The fishing guide, TonyEichholz from Buyck and I would seine them andput them in a large screened-in box. Jessethought the shiners were dying a lot sooner thanthey should and got Ed up to the resort to see ifhe could figure out why. Ed lay down on hisstomach on the dock with his hands dangling inthe minnow box for about a half hour. He cameto the conclusion that wave action caused theshiners to scrape against the screen and losescales. The scraped area caused sores to formand the shiners died shortly thereafter. He said itwould be better to put fewer minnows in the box.

I can remember Ed’s wife-to-be when she wasstill Marie Trucano. The Walt Johnson kids wholived across the street from me in Tower wereher cousins. Marie had a younger brother John.Both of us were born on December 20, 1932. Ithink her brother Lawrence still lives on theTrucano farm a mile west of Tower. John lives inVirginia now.

Ed mentioned Leon Polley. In the middle ofOctober 1950, Leon and I were on a manhunttogether. I had graduated from high school thatspring and I was still working for Jesse at hishome. One evening we had just finished supperwhen Jesse got a telephone call from a womanwho was very upset. Her husband, NickBudovinich had gone partridge hunting andwasn’t home yet hours after dark. She wantedJesse to go look for him. They had a cabin in thearea and Jesse knew who they were. He told herthat he would try to find him.

Jesse knew that Leon was an experienced

woodsman and called him. We drove over toPolley’s Resort a half mile away and picked himup. We had two good flashlights, a compass andmatches. I had been roaming around in thewoods near Tower since grade school and I wasfamiliar with being in the woods.

We drove down the new road to Oak Narrowsand found Nick’s car. There was about a halfinch of snow on the ground and it was easy tofollow his tracks. Jesse stayed in the truck andhonked the horn quite often. Leon and I startedtracking. After a while we could see that thetracks were starting to go around in a circle. Ahalf hour later we found Nick sitting by a fire.When it was getting dark he had come upon hisown tracks and knew he was lost. He didn’tpanic and did the right thing. He found a big drystump from an uprooted white pine. There was alot of pitch on the roots. He had matches andused dry balsam twigs and branches to get thestump on fire. He was prepared to spend thenight there.

He was very happy to see us. We headednorth and came to the road about 300 yardsaway. We were a half mile east of his car. It wasa happy couple who went to bed that night.

In the early 1950s, I met Dick Lavine whobought the lots on Oak Narrows from Ed. Agroup of us in our early 20s ran around all overthe lake in our runabouts. Most of the boats were14-ft. cedar strip Thompsons. All of our motorswere 22-hp. Johnsons or Evinrudes. Dick and hiswife Evie were starting to build Timbuktu Resortfrom scratch. Dick was a shop teacher in Aurorafor many years and was a good carpenter.Sometimes we would stop there for gas or a six-pack of 3.2 beer. Dick had carved and painted atotem pole out of an 8-ft. log. It was mountednext to the store by the road.

In the 1960s and 1970s, Dick and I wereinvolved with the building of the original Giant’s

M EMORIES OF THE LAKEby Frank Franson


Ridge. We spent many hours on the hill cuttingdown trees and burning brush along with otherskiers. Both of us were on the board of directorsof Giant’s Ridge Incorporated. One evening theentire board had a cookout at Timbuktu. Weeach brought our own steak to barbecue. Eviemade potato salad and lettuce and tomato saladfor us. Along with a few drinks, it was a goodevening.

One year Dick and I and a skier from Biwabikwent out to Red Lodge, Montana to ski duringEaster vacation. I was teaching high school mathand science then in Tower. We had five daysvacation. We drove straight through taking turnsdriving and sleeping and we stopped once in awhile to eat. We had three full days to ski. It wasa good ski area and didn’t have the “Hollywood”type of skiers like in Aspen, Colorado.

I hadn’t seen Dick in many years when hepassed away in January of 2008. It had beenmany years since he sold Timbuktu. We neverimagined that Giant’s Ridge would be like it istoday. We spent hundreds or thousands ofdollars making improvements. The IRR hasspent tens of millions of dollars.

EDITOR’S NOTE - If you have favorite memo-ries of Lake Vermilion and would like to share themwith our members, please contact any SCLV boardmember and we would be happy to print your storyin a future edition of the Vermilion Sportsman.

This is a photo of me on the dock at Grand View Re-sort in 1949. The land in the background behind thedock is the island between Big Muskrat and LittleMuskrat channels. The boat belonged to the owner ofthe resort, Jesse Swanson. He used it to bring gro-ceries to the resort every three days and haul touristsback and forth from his home on Niles Bay (Swanson’sPoint). The boat slips could hold six boats, three oneach side of the channel between them. The slips anddocks were built by Bill Wilson from Tower in the mid1940s.

A happy tourist had caught the big Walleyes and Iwas taking them to the fish-cleaning table to gill andgut them. After I did that, I shoveled some of the ice inthe icehouse and laid the Walleyes right on the ice.After I did that, I shoveled some ice and then sawdustback on top of the fish and made sure they were cov-ered good. I put a stake in the sawdust saying whosefish they were.

— Frank Franson

“There is nothing in the world more

beautiful than the forest clothed to

its very hollows in snow. It is the stillecstasy of nature, wherein every

spray, every blade of grass, every spire

of reed, every intricacy of twig, is cladwith radiance.

— William Sharp


"This is my first membership card (a photocopy). I have admired the club's activities overthe years. My sons have worked on some of the club's activities, especially the early ones. Wehave spent the summers at Vermilion (west end) since 1955, and there couldn't be a nicerplace." — Robin

A Note from a Charter Member

Correction to Loon Deaths Article

In the last issue of the Vermilion Sportsman, we printed an article entitled "Loon Fatalities Notice."The article should have stated that at the St. Louis County Commissioner's meeting held at GreenwoodTown Hall, a petition was presented to set a "speed zone of 25 mph" in the Oak Narrows channelbetween the east and west ends of Lake Vermilion — NOT a "No Wake" speed limit. We apologize forthe error.


St. Paul, Minn. — When the loons make their returnjourney north to Minnesota from the Gulf of Mexico thisyear, wildlife watchers will be following them closely.

Researchers are looking for signs the loons mayhave been harmed by the Gulf oil spill.

One night last July, Kevin Kenow supervised a teamof scientists from around the country as they launched acanoe onto a lake at St. John's University inCollegeville. They were there to capture loonsand outfit them with satellite transmitters.

"Between the calls and the lights, it pullsthe birds' attention enough that we're able tomove in on it and scoop it up with the landingnet," he said.

Carrol Henderson from the non-game wildlife pro-gram was on the lake that night. He said the satellitetransmitters they used have to be implanted internally.

"You can't put a harness on a bird like a loon, be-cause it impairs their diving ability," he said.

A surgeon from Florida was on the scene. He'd comenorth in his veterinary MASH unit, housed in a traveltrailer. He implanted a small transmitter into a loon'sabdominal cavity. An 8-inch wire antenna provides theconnection with the satellites.

The wire sticking out the back makes the loon appearas if it's sporting a jaunty antenna -- which it is.

The bird also gets a geolocator tag fastened to a legband. This records the bird's movements and alsoatmospheric pressure, showing how deep the loon divesfor food.

Henderson and other experts think the Minnesotabirds most at risk from last year's Gulf oil spill are loonsand white pelicans. Young loons spend nearly threeyears in the Gulf, and white pelicans spend one yearthere before they fly north.

"So the loons that hatched in Minnesota in 2008 and2009 were down in the Gulf during the time of the oilspill, and we don't know how many could have beenlost," he said.

More than 100 loons were found dead or dying after

the spill, but Henderson said they're dense birds, morelikely to sink to the bottom than float to shore. Therecould be longer-term risks, too, he said.

"Loons, which can dive to almost 200 feet to feed -- alot of their feeding is actually on the bottom -- if they'refeeding on bottom creatures that have been exposed tooiled sediment, this could be affecting the food chain ortheir metabolism in the long term as well," he said.

The scientists are taking blood samples ofthis and other loons, looking for residues ofpetroleum or the chemical dispersants usedafter the spill.

Right now they don't have any particularexpectations, but they think it's possible the time thebirds spent in the Gulf could affect their survivability,and their reproductive success.

On the DNR's web site you can HYPERLINK "http://www.umesc.usgs.gov/terrestrial/migratory_birds/loons/migrations.html" \o "" \t "_blank" track the movements ofthe St. John's loon since it was outfitted with the trans-mitter. At the office, the DNR's Lori Naumann sits infront of a computer screen and shows us what they'velearned about the loon's movements.

"You can see that it starts early in July up here, andit's staying around its breeding lake, we're now up intoSeptember," Naumann says.

Each dot on the map represents a day in the life ofthe loon. The map shows the loon spent a lot of timepaddling around the lake at St. John's -- until mid-October. The bird is then tracked to Lake Michiganwhere it stays for while before flying down to the Gulf ofMexico in early December.

"As of yesterday," she says, "it was still hanging rightaround this area just off the west coast of Florida."

When it flies back up this spring, the research teamhopes to catch it again, download the GPS data, andcheck its blood.

They plan to fit more loons with transmitters and GPStags this summer. They want people who find deadloons to contact the DNR right away so they can try tofigure out the cause of death. And they're conductingsimilar in-depth studies of white pelicans.

Tracking Oil Spill’s Effect on Loons Stephanie Hemphill, Minnesota Public Radio — January 14, 2011


Some years ago, I became interested in hunting for sheddeer antlers. Most of my shed hunting has been in earlyspring after snowmelt when I simply walk deer trails hopingto chance upon an antler shed by a whitetail buck sometimeduring the previous winter months. At times it seems like Ihave been looking for the proverbial “needle in the haystack”and on average it takes me at least eight hours of walkingfor each shed found. Though I have found antlers of differ-ent sizes up to my largest, one side of a ten pointer, I haveyet to find a matched set, i.e. both antlers from the samebuck. Finding a matched set from a trophy buck is the ulti-mate goal for any serious shed hunter.

My son-in-law, Jason Harinen, accomplished this goalin a most unusual way this past December. On the after-noon of December 2nd, Jason who lives and works in theTwin Cities was driving on County Hwy 96 in the northeastsuburb of Shoreview when he saw a very large whitetail bucktrotting towards the highway. The buck proceeded onto theroadway and ran into the side of a minivan that was travel-ing in the same direction and about 50 yards ahead of Jason’svehicle. In the collision, both of the buck’s antlers were dis-lodged with one of them flying 6-8 feet into the air. The buckfell momentarily upon impacting the van, but then soon gotup and ran back in the same direction from where he came,

Shed Antler Hunting…

A Once in a Lifetime Experience… by: Mel Hintz

albeit now a bit light headed! Jason made a quick U-turnand retrieved the prized trophy sheds which were lying to-gether on the shoulder of the road.

Close inspection of the antlers shows that they releasedfrom the buck’s skull in the normal fashion and thus werenot broken off. With the exception of one small point at thebase of the left antler, the rack was not damaged in the col-lision. The 12-point antlers are huge; the size most huntersdream about, but never see except on the cover of sportingmagazines. A co-worker of Jason’s measured the antlersand estimated they would score roughly 190 inches typical.The G2 points are 12 inches long. Jason plans to enter theantlers in this year’s Minnesota Whitetail Classic held dur-ing early March in St. Paul.

There is yet another interesting twist to this story. As itturns out, a friend of Jason’s co-worker photographed thissame buck from his office window about a week before thecollision with the van. Some distinctive features of the rackleave no doubt that it is the same buck. In all likelihood, thisbig buck is well known in the neighborhood, but few knowthe manner in which he shed his antlers this year. Perhapshe should be named the “Hard Headed Buck.” The mannerin which Jason collected these sheds is truly a once in alifetime experience. (See photos on next page)

The wonderful thing about Lake Vermilion is thatyou can enjoy it in so many ways. In the winter, thereis ice-fishing, snowmobiling, cross-country skiing, andsnowshoeing. In the summer, there is fishing, berrypicking, swimming, water skiing, wake boarding, tub-ing, boating and more.

When we were kids, our choices of boats werepretty much the fishing boat or a canoe. Today, the

Playing on Lake Vermilionkind of boats is varied and seemingly endless. Thereis the pontoon boat, the specialized small water ski boat,the more hefty, specially outfitted wake boarding boat,the sleek and beyond fast cigarette boat, the paddleboat, and, more and more, the sail boat. The one I likemost is the kayak.

The first time I took out my brand new red Old Townand paddled around our bay, I saw the lake in a differ-ent way. I saw it slowly and quietly. The shorelinelooked so much more intricate with its varied compactgrowth. The trees towering above looked more majes-tic, and the lake more immense but not foreboding. Ifelt connected to the universe in a new way sitting inmy kayak with the water moving under me. A cliche, Iknow, but I felt at one with the lake.

I like the independence I feel in my own kayak. But,it is the quiet and peacefulness I love most.

Renee Aro


Jason Harinen holding the trophy sheds.

Photo of the same buck before antlers were shed.


Muskie were successfully established inLake Vermilion through a stocking program thatbegan in 1984. The muskie population hasdone well and the lake is now known as one ofthe premier muskie fisheries in the Midwest.Some anglers occasionally express concernthat the muskie introduction may have a nega-tive impact on other fish species, particularlywalleye. They areconcerned thatmuskies will eatsubstantial numbersof walleye and reducethe walleye popula-tion. It certainly iswise to be cautiousabout introducing anew species into a lake; as such introductionsare sometimes detrimental to the native fishcommunity. The introduction of muskie intoLake Vermilion was done only after meetingstringent criteria for new muskie introductionsand a thorough review of the possible conse-quences. Based on all the information avail-able, it was decided that introducing muskieswould provide a new trophy type of fisherywhile having minimal impact on other species.Since the introduction of muskie, the walleyepopulation has continued to do very well. Infact, several of the highest walleye catchesever observed during annual population as-sessments occurred during the period 2000-2007.

The decision to introduce muskie into LakeVermilion was based, in part, on the abun-dance of tullibee and white sucker in the lake,species that are known to be preferred preyitems for muskie. Research has shown thatmuskie prefer prey without sharp spines intheir fins, such as tullibee and sucker. Perchhave also been shown to be an important prey

item, probably because they are small enoughthat their spines are not a factor and becausethey are found in stands of aquatic vegetationthat muskie also inhabit. Walleye have notbeen known to be a major forage species formuskie, even in lakes with abundant walleyepopulations. Although muskie will certainly eatwalleye occasionally, the numbers eaten are

minor compared toother natural mortal-ity and angler har-vest.

A researchproject was con-ducted a number ofyears ago in Wiscon-sin that looked at the

food habits of muskie. Stomach contents wereexamined from 1,092 muskie captured in 34Wisconsin lakes from July 1991 to October1994. The muskie were captured throughoutthe open water season by trapnetting,electrofishing and angling. The muskie stom-achs were flushed with water to disgorge thecontents without injuring the fish. The cap-tured muskie ranged in size from nine inchesto 46 inches. Based on the number and size ofconsumed food items, yellow perch and whitesucker were, by far, the most important preyspecies consumed by muskies. Only fivewalleye were found in the 1,092 muskie stom-achs examined. Sunfish, crappie and variousminnow species were eaten more frequentlythan walleye in the study lakes. Tullibee werenot common in many of the study lakes andtherefore were relatively unimportant as fooditems. However, previous research has shownthat tullibee are an important food item formuskie in lakes where they are abundant, suchas Lake Vermilion.

What do muskies eat anyway?Tower DNR Fisheries



The Minnesota DNR conducted anotherstudy in 2007 to examine fish population trendsin 41 lakes that had been stocked with muskie.The analysis did not show a significant de-crease in any fish species, including walleye,after muskie were stocked. When lake surveynet catches of individual species in individuallakes were examined after muskie werestocked, significantly more fish were caught in16 cases, significantly less fish were caught in9 cases, and net catches were essentially thesame in 194 cases. The lack of consistentnegative changes to fish populations aftermuskie stocking suggests muskie and otherspecies generally co-exist quite well.

It is important to understand that muskieand walleye have co-existed in many lakes

Joe Geis (pictured on the left, receiving acknowledgement from President Mel Hintz) was recently hon-ored by the Sportsmen's Club board, at a luncheon held at the Wayside Café. Joe has been the AreaFisheries Supervisor at the Department of Natural Resources since 1988. He and his staff have partneredwith the Club on many important and productive projects over the years. He is retiring after a 37-yearcareer with the DNR.

across the northern United States and south-ern Canada for centuries. In fact, many of thepremier muskie lakes in the region are alsoexcellent walleye lakes. This would not bepossible if muskie decimated walleye popula-tions as is sometimes suggested. The mostimportant strategies for maintaining walleyepopulations are to protect habitat, preservewater quality and prevent over-harvest. Ifanyone has questions about muskie or otherfish species in Lake Vermilion please feel freeto contact me at our Tower office.

Duane Williams, Large Lake SpecialistDNR FisheriesPhone: 218-753-2580 ext. 224E-mail: [email protected]


After a year of planning, the trip was finallyunder way. Full from a big breakfast at Larry’s, a lastminute check of transportation, equipment, food,licenses, etc., we were at the start of some 500 milesof road travel to the landing from which another 20miles of water would take us to our base camp.

With a full week to spend before the Ontariomoose season opened, our first stop was at OneSided Lake for some duck shooting. One evening andthe next morning of shooting found the waterfowlpopulation somewhat less in number but far fromextinct.

Breaking camp about 10 a.m., we again headednorth. The car loaded with two canoes and pulling atwo-wheeled trailer, which contained the bulk of ourequipment, took the sometimes uneven roads andhills with little effort. Jim, whose car it was, did mostof the driving. Larry, Jack and myself spent a gooddeal of the day working over a three handed smeargame.

Ignace, Ontario - After checking in with lumbercompany officials, we were on the last 120-mile leg tocamp. We were now entering prime moose country.Deer signs became less evident as the large prints ofthe moose began showing up in the soft sand of theroad. At Churchill River, some hunters were settingup camp for their assault on the moose.

At nine p.m. darkness found us in Savant Lake,a small village on the C N Railway. We set up a hastycamp on the edge of town from which, after an earlybreakfast, we stocked up on a few last minute itemsfrom the General Store.

Noon found us loading the canoes at WiggleCreek, which took us to Koshawigama Lake. Thecanoes, though loaded heavy, rode well on thealmost smooth water. After shooting the rapids fromKoshawigama into Fairchild Lake, we were at basecamp.

The next two days were spent hunting grouseand fishing for camp meat. Ruffed grouse were

plentiful along with the ever present spruce hen,which we passed up for the more palatable "ruffed."Fishing at the base of the rapids in 20 feet of water,produced all the pike needed to satisfy our needs.

With season opening on Sunday, Thursday andFriday were spent checking the area. Saturday was aday of map reading, gun cleaning and planning.Cards were cut for partners and areas. Larry andJack chose a small unnamed lake not far from campwhile Jim and I were to go up the lake.

Sunday, October 1 - Jim and I, the canoestripped of its motor, paddled against a brisk wind forabout two hours into a large bay, which let us relaxand really begin to glass the shoreline and thoseareas of the woods which the binoculars wouldpenetrate.

Noon lunch of canned stew, bread and fruitfound us some 10 miles from camp. So far we hadseen nothing but rock, water and spruce trees. Thewind was picking up, and the sky began to bank up inthe west. Rain for sure.

It hit about 2:00 p.m. as we were on our wayback toward camp. A cold, driving rain that seems tofind its way clear through a man. No moose in hisright mind would be out in that weather so we headedfor some dry clothing and hot food.

When we hit camp, Jack and Larry were alreadythere. Congratulations were in order. Jack had putdown a two-year-old bull. They had covered abouthalf the lake staying some 50 yards off shore to gainsome protection from the wind. Jack, hearing move-ment from behind him, turned in time to see the bullgoing into the brush. A well placed neck shot and thework of dressing him out began. After quartering himout and hanging them to the keep the small animalsfrom the meat, they marked the map and called it aday.

That evening it calmed down but turned coldwith a few snow flurries just before the usual eveningof smear.

Club Member Names Canadian LakeA story of four Erie Mining employees, Jerry Kurpius, Jim Edgeton, Larry Wobbe and Jack Mausolf,

who ventured into the wilds of Canada to test their skills against one of North America’s largestgame animals, the moose. Kurpius describes their adventure in the following story.


Monday was Larry's day in the "Golden Chair."With muscles a little stiff from the paddle, Jack andhe went back into the same areas as the day previ-ous. A slow breeze coasted them from the portageinlet out into the lake proper. It wasn't a matter of ifthere were any moose but a matter of which one totake. By glassing the shoreline, five moose could beseen. A particularly large rack of horns some 600yards away was picked for the target. Keeping asmall island between the canoe and the moose, theslow, silent stalk began. The island was cleared justas the big bull left the water out of shooting range.

After a 20 minute wait, being assured he hadgone into the bush, Jack eased the canoe back to thecenter of the lake to start after a large cow some 400yards away when a good sized bull came out of thebush, proceeded to make his way across the shal-lows on the south end of the lake. Larry put him downwith three well placed shots.

Tuesday morning was the start of a perfect Fallday. The sun and light breeze forced the frostedleaves from the trees, and we could see large flocksof snow geese overhead on their journey from theArctic and James Bay Region.

Jack and Jim left early for the village to pick up afew supplies we were short of. Larry and I decided totry a different lake about 3 miles from camp. It was ahard, sand bottom lake and bordered by jack pineand spruce with not too many signs of moose feed.We had covered about 2 miles of shoreline stayingabout 400 yards off shore when Larry spotted him,standing 20 yards off the lake in the shade of a largespruce tree. Other than the antlers, it took me sometime to distinguish the body from the shadows andthick alder brush. Larry paddled the canoe slowlytoward shore as I accustomed my eyes to the scope.The sun, just breaking to the tops of the pines,created a reflection in the scope which made itdifficult to focus on the animal. About 125 yards out,he turned and looked toward us and fearing that hewould break for cover, I fired my first and secondshots through the brush. He turned and started forthe timber. As he went over an old spruce deadfall,he raised himself above the alder where I could makea clear shot, and he went down. We found him downbut still alive, so Larry finished him with a shot behindthe head. The fun was over, and the work began. Twoand one-half hours later, he was cleaned and quar-tered. Too much for one trip, we covered threequarters with plastic and spruce boughs to keep it

from the whiskey jacks, which can carry away asmuch as a full grown bear or so, it seems. Draggingwas impossible so Larry cut an eight foot pole fromwhich we slung one piece at a time and made ourway back to the shore. You have heard of guyscarrying swinging beef but you should try swingingmoose while walking in muskeg up to and sometimesover your knees with brush and a few deadfall sprucethrown in for good measure.

Thursday, we woke up to a warm, cloudy andrainy day. Fearing that our meat would spoil, wepacked up and headed for home, well satisfied withwhat we feel was a very enjoyable and successfulmoose hunting trip.

Looking over the map, Jack decided that thelake where Larry and he had shot their moose shouldhave a name, so he combined the "moose off lake,"which they had put on the map to mark his mooseand his name, and it came out "Moosolf Lake." Usinga piece of 2 x 4, his hunting knife and a hot poker, heconstructed a portage sign which we nailed on alarge pine at the base of the rapids.

Upon return home, he sent a recommendationto the Lands and Forests of Ontario of his act, and aconfirmation was received in July of 1966 that thislake is now officially "Moosolf Lake."

Footnote: If you type Moosolf Lake on yourGoogle search page it will come up. It is locatedabout 100 miles north of Ignace, Ontario, Canada.This was in 1965 and the second year of which therewas a road to this area other than railroad.


Vermilion Ice Road Alert!!

Attention: Snowmobilers and Ice Road Makers

Every winter Lake Vermilion becomes very busy with numerous snowmobile enthusiastshaving a wonderful time exploring the interesting shoreline, bays and staked trails set-up cour-tesy of the Vermilion Penguin Snowmobile Club. At the same time, many folks are trying toestablish an easy route across the ice to reach their fishhouse, cabin and island home by plowing a temporary iceroad. You can quickly understand how this combination canoccasionally threaten life and limb. The snowmobilers can’talways see the ice road banks in advance, can quicklybecome airborne at even slower speeds, fall off their ma-chines, injure themselves and possibly damage the snow-mobile. It’s happened many, many times on Vermilion. So,while there are no laws that we know of covering thesevarious situations, we are recommending that the ice roadmakers find a way to mark their road banks particularly in areas that might see heavier snowmo-bile traffic. We’ve seen some banks marked with tree branches & reflectors - many thanks tothose road makers. Any reasonable markings should be better than nothing in an effort toprotect a life and/or prevent a damaged machine. And by the way, please pick up the markers atthe end of the season. Thanks for your cooperation. Sportsmen’s Club.

Many of you own homes or seasonal cabinson Lake Vermilion. If you live here or have beenhere for one or more visits this winter, you knowthat we have received a near record amount ofsnow. If you have not been here or do not havesomeone checking on your property, it woulddefinitely be prudent to do so. There is already

SNOW LOAD ALERT3-4 feet of snow on the roofs of some unheatedcabins and buildings and heated cabins orhomes may have some major ice dams buildingup. Both of these situations have the potential tocause serious structural or water damage. Anumber of commercial and private storage typebuildings have already collapsed under theweight of the snow. Many residents and sea-sonal property owners have contracted withworkers here to clear the snow from their roofs.If you have not already done so, I strongly en-courage you to do so or, at least, have a qualifiedperson inspect your property to determine theextent of the snow load situation. The monthswhich typically have the greatest snowfall are yetto come. There are many contractors and indi-viduals who are making themselves available toprovide this type of service this winter.

Dale Lundblad - Board Member


While the Lake Vermilion boating season is still months away, it is never too early to learn about some boating practiceswhich will keep us safe while encountering situations in which our responsibility as the person in command of a power-driven vessel may not be obvious. The following are examples of possible situations and the rules governing them accord-ing to The United States Coast Guard - Navigation Rules for Inland Waters:

1.) A power-driven vessel underway shall keep out of the way of:a.) a vessel not under command (This could be a vessel which has lost the ability to maneuver because of a

mechanical problem or other exceptional circumstance.)b.) a vessel restricted in her ability to maneuver (This could include a construction barge which is transporting

building materials or equipment or is laying submarine cable or pipeline or is setting, repositioning or recoveringnavigation or hazard buoys. It could include a DNR electro-fishing boat which is engaged in shocking fish tostudy the fish population. It could include a Sportsmen’s Club volunteer’s boat engaged in the placing orservicing of navigation lights. It could also include a vessel which is engaged in a towing operation which wouldrestrict its ability to deviate from its course.)

c.) a vessel engaged in fishing (This refers to vessel fishing with nets, trawls, or other fishing apparatus whichrestricts maneuverability and not a vessel fishing with trolling lines or other apparatus which do not restrictmaneuverability. This could include a DNR boat engaged in test netting for Muskies or other fish.)

d.) a sailing vessel (This could include any vessel under sail propulsion alone and providing that propelling machin-ery, if fitted, is not being used. This could be a sailboat which has an auxiliary propulsion motor. Once the motoris being used for propulsion this would become a power-driven vessel and come under the rules governingthose vessels.)

2.) A sailing vessel underway shall keep out of the way of:a.) a vessel not under commandb.) a vessel restricted in her ability to maneuverc.) a vessel engaged in fishing

3.) A vessel engaged in fishing when underway shall, so far as possible, keep out of the way of:

a.) a vessel not under commandb.) a vessel restricted in her ability to maneuver

4.) A seaplane on the water shall, in general, keep clear of all vessels and avoid impeding their navigation. In circum-stances, however, where risk of collision exists, she shall comply with the Rules of this part. (This could include any aircraftdesigned to maneuver on the water. A seaplane on its final approach to land or on its takeoff roll or while taxiing could beconsidered to be a vessel restricted in her ability to maneuver for that brief period of time. Other power-driven vesselsshould, therefore, keep out of her way.) Minnesota rules are much more specific. According to information provided to meby DNR Enforcement Officer, Dan Starr; “aircraft have the right of way.” As is stated in MN Rule 6110.1200 Subpart 2, B:“No person shall operate a watercraft in any manner as to intentionally obstruct or interfere with the takeoff, landing, ortaxiing of any aircraft.” Part A of the rule, however, states: “No person shall operate a watercraft in such a manner that itswash or wake will endanger, harass, or unnecessarily interfere with any person or property.” What that does is to take the“INTENTIONALLY” out of the equation. The wake obviously causes safety issues with planes so the boat operator can becharged criminal, even if the intent is not there. DNR Officer Starr also wants boaters to get the message that “you own thewake you cause” and can be held legally responsible for any damage or injury it causes.

The following are General Definitions contained in The United States Coast Guard - Navigation Rules for Inland Wa-ters:

1.) The word “vessel” includes every description of watercraft, including nondisplacement craft and seaplanes, usedor capable of being used as a means of transportation on water.

2.) The term “power-driven vessel” means any vessel propelled by machinery.

VERMILION SAFE BOATER’S GUIDE



“Boy I worked hard today…yea right” came the replyfrom a friend. “I sure wish I had your job,” he said. Well, ifI have heard those words once I have heard them a thou-sand times. “Well, if you have got some time let me tell youabout my job.”

First off, I am retired and really do not want another fulltime job nor could I physically handle the rigors of full timeguiding. Full time guiding is not a job for someone lookingto support a family, unless he or she has a spouse who hasa fairly decent paying job that can supplement their income.

Before I look at a typical day for a guide let me discusssome of the things that take place in preparation for thesummer season. There are a few of the guides who havewinter ice fishing houses that they rent but that is a wholedifferent game. Drilling holes, moving ice houses, plowingroads, etc. involves a great deal of work for those who chooseto play the winter game…not me, thank you!

Preparation begins as soon as the season ends. Formost, that is just before ice is on the lake. This involvescleaning the boat, making the small repairs that are neededimmediately and looking for what has to be replaced beforethe next summer. In my case, I have to replace my driverseat pedestal and a kicker motor…if I can keep it under$2000 for just those two items I will be happy. Then it iswinterizing the motor/motors and tucking it away someplacenice until around April. Now I am finished for a little whileanyway. The ice fishing guides are getting their ice housesready, filling their propane tanks, charging batteries, sharp-ening auger blades and checking all their rods, reels andtackle so they can get out to their favorite early icespots…usually out in front of McKinley Park somewhere.My ice fishing consists of driving out in my warm truck andwalking into one of my friend’s houses, which is like a livingroom with holes in the floor.

Around the end of February we take an inventory oftackle, rods, reels and other miscellaneous items that weuse so we can place our orders in March and April. I needto replace three rods, a couple of reels, some new line andsome miscellaneous terminal tackle. Many of the guidesare affiliated with rod and tackle manufacturers so much ofwhat we buy is discounted somewhat. Thank goodness!

In March we place our orders and start to putz with ourexisting stuff getting it a little organized for the big day com-ing up in May. Meanwhile the ice fishing guides are gettingtheir ice houses off the lake in whatever shape they are left.Depending on conditions they often have to do a lot of chis-eling and prying to get them loose…way too much work!

By April we are all itching to get on some “soft” water.Many of us take trips to the Rainy River in search of someof those “hog eyes” that can be so abundant just after iceout on the river. Some also chase Sturgeon, the real mon-

sters of the Rainy River. It also gives us a chance to test outnew equipment and see if everything is in working order.

By the first of May, we are ready to start the season. Weall have some new equipment, which is usually somethingthat is guaranteed to catch fish which we will never use. Ithink most guides are like me, and only use a very small por-tion of the enormous amounts of tackle we have. Reels arecleaned and spooled with new line, tackle boxes are orga-nized at least for the first few weeks of the season anyway.Log books are read and re-read, a multitude of conversa-tions are held regarding the upcoming opening day and howmany pre-bookings we have so far for the season. Many ofthe guides are multi-species and have to have different rods,reels and tackle for each different species. Muskie guidesusually have thousands of dollars invested in those giant luresthey toss around all day and several special heavy duty rodsthat can handle those big toothy critters.

A full day with clients begins early. We usually pick themup at a public landing or at one of the resorts they are stayingat. More and more of the guides are starting their full day asclose to 7 a.m. as possible. That means that the night beforeor in the morning before the boat has to be gassed, oilchecked, cleaned and ready to go. Rods rigged, bait andice, pop and water on board. Life jackets for everyone, cam-eras, insect repellent, sunscreen and first-aid kit are just afew of the many articles that we carry with us on our trips.Once we are on the water the search begins, hopefully wewill have found the right spot the day before or have talked toanother guide who was out previously as well, so we have astarting point. I usually am on the water by 6 a.m. to checkout a few spots before I pick up my clients. Many of us havemarine radios and share information on where the fish are orhave been. We have to use a code now as many other an-

SO YOU WANT TO BE A FISHING GUIDE - EH!By: Phil Bakken


glers have marine radios and love to hear the guides talkingabout the “hot-spots.” Lake Vermilion is a tremendous fish-ery and we usually manage to find some fish. At the end ofthe day which usually runs 8 to 9 hours of fishing and upand down baiting hooks, netting fish, getting lines off theprop or tangled together, telling stories, cleaning and pack-ing fish, and seeing to it that the clients have a memorableexperience on the water…we are pooped. I don’t care whatanyone says, while we all love our jobs, it is a lot of work.

The Lake Vermilion Guides League was formed in Aprilof 2009 with 15 charter members who primarily guide onLake Vermilion. It is a 501c(3) non-profit organization formedto: “Foster the development and promotion of fishing andassociated activities by providing the means for education,preservation and conservation of those natural resourcesthat are important to fishing and to the enhancement of fel-lowship and camaraderie among fishermen”. A code of eth-ics was also established in order to ensure that resorts andindividuals hiring a member of the Guide’s League wouldhave a professional who is prepared to provide a great andsafe experience on our beautiful lake.

The Lake Vermilion Guides League is extremely proudto be major sponsors in two events each year, one in thewinter and one in the summer. These events are focused

on young people throughout our area. The youngsters arepaired up in the summer for an afternoon of fishing followedby a traditional shore lunch. In the winter they get a chanceto fish with a guide in a heated ice house and learn somewinter fishing tactics. Of course they also get to eat all thehamburgers and hot dogs they want! These events could nottake place nor be as successful without the participation ofthe Guides League members, resort owners, the Sportsmen’sClub, Fortune Bay Resort and Casino, local businesses andcommunity volunteers.

Being a guide involves a lot of time and expense, fishingin all types of weather, having to deal with all types ofpeople…but we still have “the best office in the world.”

If you would like information on any of the kid’s eventsplease contact a Guides League member. Our web site is:www.LakeVermilionGuidesLeague.com.

Good fishing!

Phil Bakken: Retired professional, is currently Chairmanof the Lake Vermilion Guides League. Phil has been guidingfor Walleyes on Lake Vermilion for nine years, while he hasfished the lake for almost 30 years. Phil does not guide fulltime and enjoys the teaching aspect of guiding and meetingand becoming friends with many of his clients.

3.) The term “sailing vessel” means any vessel under sail provided that propelling machinery, if fitted, is not beingused.

4.) The term “vessel engaged in fishing” means any vessel fishing with nets, lines, trawls, or other fishing apparatuswhich restricts maneuverability, but does not include a vessel with trolling lines or other fishing apparatus whichdo not restrict maneuverability.

5.) The word “ seaplane” includes any aircraft designed to maneuver on the water. 6.) The term “ vessel not under command” means a vessel which through some exceptional circumstance is unable

to maneuver as required by these Rules and is therefore unable to keep out of the way of another vessel. 7.) The term, “vessel restricted in her ability to maneuver” means a vessel which from the nature of her work is

restricted by these Rules and is therefore unable to keep out of the way of another vessel; vessels restricted intheir ability to maneuver include, but are not limited to:a.) a vessel engaged in laying, servicing, or picking up a navigation mark, submarine cable, or pipelineb.) a vessel engaged in dredging, surveying, or underwater operationsc.) a vessel engaged in replenishment or transferring persons, provisions, or cargo while underwayd.) a vessel engaged in a towing operation such as severely restricts the towing vessel and her tow in their

ability to deviate from their course 8.) The word “underway” means that a vessel is not at anchor, or made fast to the shore, or aground. 9.) The words “length” and “breadth” of a vessel means her length overall and the greatest breadth.10.) Vessels shall be deemed to be in sight of one another only when one can be observed visually from the other.11.) The term “ restricted visibility” means any condition in which visibility is restricted by fog, mist, falling snow, heavy

rainstorms, sandstorms, or any other similar causes.

As you might have concluded from reading the above rules and definitions, operating a vessel on an inland waterway,even one as seemingly quiet and uncongested as Lake Vermilion can be challenging or, at least, a bit more complicatedthan you previously thought. Hopefully, the scenarios I have presented will help you to enjoy boating on Lake Vermilion ina safe and responsible manner.

Dale Lundblad - Board member

Vermilion Safe Boater’s Guide… (Continued from Page 15)


This free home-study course allows boaters ages 12-17 toearn their watercraft operator’s permit. Adults can receive acertificate of completion (mandatory to operate a boat in somestates and Canada) plus discounts from many boat insurancecompanies.

Although you may send in your application, workbook, andtest year-round, you can beat the rush and delayed process-ing time during the spring and summer months by sending inyour materials during the period from September throughMarch.

Boating Safety Course home-study packet

To get the Operator Test Packet:• E-mail

[email protected](please be sure to include your name and address)

• Call(651) 259-5400 or toll free 1-888-646-6367[Telecommunications Device for the Deaf (651) 296-5484 or toll free 1-800-657-3929]

• WriteMinnesota Department of Natural ResourcesBoat & Water Safety Section500 Lafayette RoadSt. Paul, MN 55155-4046

COOK (55723)

Sheri Sawatzky, Secretary ........................... 2750 Wakemup Village Road West

Phone 666-5512 .............................. Email: [email protected]

Dale Lundblad, Vice President .................. 9082 Little Sweden Road


Gary Whitenack ........................................... 9140 Hibbing Point Road


Ed Tausk ..................................................... Vermilion Dam Lodge, PO Box 1105


Jim Mueller .................................................. 8782 Raps Road


Warren Anderson ......................................... 3242 Phillips Rd.


TOWER (55790)

Walt Moe .................................................... 3331 Nisen Drive

Phone 753-3816 ........................... Email: [email protected]

Mel Hintz, President ................................. 6119 Pike Bay Drive


Renee Aro .................................................. P.O. Box 872


Bob Wilson, Treasurer ............................. 1501 Echo Narrows Lane


Jeff Lovgren (Member Records) ............... 2113 Birch Point Road


Howard Ankrum ......................................... 1878 Everett Road South


BOARD OF DIRECTORS and OFFICERS 2010-2011

SCLV Board Meetings are held monthly on the second Wednesday, and are open to all SCLVmembers. Check with a board member for time and location.

(All phone numbers are Area Code 218)


MISSION STATEMENTof The Sportsmen’s Clubof Lake Vermilion, Inc.

— To promote and enhance theoutdoor experience of LakeVermilion for present and futuregenerations by

a. Maintaining and improving theLake Vermilion fishery

b. Promoting “Catch and Release”c. Promoting safe boating prac-

ticesd. Establishing and maintaining a

“Night Navigational AidSystem”

e. Establishing and maintainingshore lunch/picnic sites

f. Monitoring and protecting areawildlife

— To protect and improve the wa-ter quality of Lake Vermilion by

a. Monitoring water quality incooperation with interestedgovernment agencies

b. Promoting shoreline preserva-tion and re-vegetation

c. Monitoring exotic species andpreventing their spread

d. Promoting sound conservationpractices in the Lake Vermilionwatershed

— To educate club members andthe public regarding issueswhich impact Lake Vermilion by

a. Publishing a periodic newsletterand distributing it to clubmembers and the public

b. Maintaining an internet websitecontaining previously publishednewsletters and other informa-tion about the club and LakeVermilion

c. Publishing news releases andarticles pertaining to clubactivities in other publications

Shoreland & Wetland Training forContractors, Realtors & Landscapers

offered by the North St. Louis Soil & Water Conservation District

(218) 742-9504 — www.nslswcd.org

Register now for this valuable training! Continuing Education Unitsoffered to participants.

Date: Thursday, March 10, 2011

Location: Mesabi Range Community &Technical College (Virginia Campus)

1001 West Chestnut Street

Registration deadline is Wednesday, March 2, 2011

This workshop is being offered to help Contractors, Realtors and Land-scapers better understand the shoreland and wetland regulations that arein place to assure our northeastern Minnesota landscapes remain appeal-ing.

Degrading water quality due to poor shoreline management ultimatelyleads to decreased property values. Disturbed shorelines also result infewer birds and amphibian species and an overall change in fish speciescomposition. Preferred management practices will be reviewed with tipsfor recognizing sensitive areas.

Various natural resource professionals will share their experiences inthe field and explain the different types of wetlands we have in St. LouisCounty.

We aim to clarify county and state regulations, with an opportunity toask agency representatives questions.

Natural aquatic vegetation plays an important role in water qualityprotection in the land of 10,000 lakes.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Affordable Trees and ShrubsAvailable

The North St. Louis Soil & Water Conservation District is acceptingorders for a variety of trees and shrubs until April 15. The 3-4 foot de-ciduous shrubs or trees are being offered in bundles of 10 for just$35. They are all hardy varieties which will do well in our climate and ina range of soil types and degrees of sun exposure. They are excellentfor revegetation of the shoreland buffer zone of your lake lot as well asattracting wildlife or providing shade or screening.

Call the NSLSWCD at: 218-742-9504 or download the order formfrom the website: www.nslswcd.org.

HELP US MAKE A BEAUTIFUL LAKE EVEN BETTER!

Membership Renewal for 2011In early December, you received a letter requesting

that you renew your membership for 2011.

Please check your dues status and contact informationshown in the letter. Let us know of any errors. We don’twant you to miss a single newsletter.

Jeff Lovgren, Member Records P.O. Box 696 Tower MN 55790

[email protected] (218) 753-2413

Membership year runs from Jan 1st through Dec 31st

2011 New Member 2011 Renewal

Membership level

$10.00 Individual $20.00 Family

$15.00 Couple $50.00 Business or Organization

Member Name _______________________________________

Spouse Name _______________________________________

Street ______________________________________________

City ________________________ State _____ Zip _______

Email (optional) _______________________________________

Phone (optional) _______________________________________

Please clip or copy this form and send to the address above.

NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONAUTOCR

U.S. POSTAGE PAIDCOOK, MINN.Permit No. 25

Become a MemberJoin those who love Lake Vermilion as much as

you do. Help us continue the many activities you’vejust read about.

Not sure? Check us out at our websitewww.sportsmensclublakevermilion.org. We’re prettysure you’ll like our vision for the future and the workwe have under way now to make Lake Vermilion evenbetter.

Please use the form on this page or the form on ourwebsite. Make checks payable to the “Sportsmen’sClub of Lake Vermilion.” The Sportsmen’s Club is a501(c)(3) non-profit organization.

Join us as we work to improve this great lake. To-gether we can have an even bigger impact!

the vermilion sportsman · understanding of the damage these mussels can do to your dock, your...

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